STS-E: USB Ethernet Adapter

TL-002: SimulCharge 1-port USB Adapter

The LAVA TL-002, SimulCharge 1-port USB lets you have your cake and eat it too. Your Samsung Galaxy Tab (selected models) can simultaneously operate as a USB Host, while at the same time accepting full-power charging on the same USB port.Read more >>>

Mini-Kiosk for Samsung Galaxy Tab 4

The LAVA Mini-Kiosk for Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 has a unique combination of features that make it the most cost-effective and easy way to deploy a tablet kiosk on the market: Power over Ethernet (PoE), built-in high quality 2D scanner, continuous tablet power, rugged enclosure, unrooted Tab 4 included.Read more >>>

A family of hardware modules with a complete TCP-IPv4 stack & Berkeley inspired command interface.

PCI 4 port RS-232 card

LAVA at a glance

At LAVA, we design and manufacture computing interfaces and devices for the Point of Sale, Kiosk, Gaming, Industrial Automation, Security and Access Control industries, and have been doing so since 1984. As experts in serial interfaces for PCI, PCIe, ISA, USB, and Ethernet buses, we build Ethernet-to-serial device servers, serial/parallel I/O boards, embedded IoT/M2M connectivity devices, and tablet PoE/USB/LAN devices.

With over a million LAVA products built into workstations, servers, retail POS systems, and industrial computers, LAVA products are trusted by resellers, distributors, OEMs and system builders in over 47 countries worldwide.

If you wonder what we mean about the “Ethernet bus”, take a look at our Ether-Serial Links, the most intuitive and flexible serial device servers on the market. We’re also experienced with parallel port interfacing, and the ground-breaking LAVA Parallel-PCI still sets the standard for speed and reliability. Our newest engineering has produced the LAVA IP System (LIPS), an Internet-of-Things, M2M connectivity solution, delivering a powerful shortcut for IP-enabling small, electronic devices.

Mini Kiosk with Samsung Galaxy Tab 4

This mini kiosk holds a Samsung Tab 4, and offers PoE interfacing, high quality scanning, and continuous-on power in a rugged enclosure. Tab 4 Mini Kiosk

SimulCharge USB for simultaneous USB Host mode and charging

Samsung Galaxy Tabs can connect to USB devices as hosts, but need these adapters to charge at the same time. TL-002 1-port adapter

LIPS: IP Networking of Embedded Systems

We manufacture here in North America

Not many serial I/O companies can make that claim. But it matters: our engineers are located right where we build, so we have the tightest integration & fastest revision cycles possible. Plus, that’s how we know our products inside out.

Ether-Serial Device Servers

LAVA’s Ether-Serial Links are built to use Ethernet as a bus in a way similar to a PCI bus — resulting in not just a transport medium for data but in hardware that is easier to use. Read the details here.

Power over Ethernet (PoE)

In many contexts, PoE enabled devices can be easily installed. The Power over Ethernet specification is a simple design, that uses existing Ethernet cabling to deliver power and data to a device using one cable. Eliminated is the need for running separate power, often eliminating the need for a power brick as well.Read the details here. >>>

New Device Server Drivers

New drivers for LAVA Ether-Serial Links are now available for download for users of ESL 1, 2, and 4 port serial device servers. These are Microsoft-signed drivers for Windows 7 32-bit and 64-bit, and Windows Server 2008 R2 (64-bit).

Making it fit

Serial interfaces are sometimes fitted into systems by using a bit of ingenuity. Here are some examples.

Serial Data Conversion 7-to-8 Bit

Here’s how to do it: and in fact, how to convert any RS-232 format (baud rate, data bits, stop bits, parity) to another…

Real-world RS-232

As the RS-232 serial port became less common in the consumer marketplace for things such as modems and printers, people gained the impression that it had actually disappeared. But in fact, RS-232 serial is still found in many items we use daily, including GPSes, cars, home weather stations, and televisions.

Davis Instruments makes a range of high-quality weather stations. Owners can get the most from them and other manufacturers’ weather stations by connecting them to the Internet, and uploading their weather data to the world, using a LAVA Ether-Serial Link. We have an app note to make things easy. >>>

Who knew? Lots of today’s TVs have RS-232 ports that can be used to control many aspects of their operation, including things you can’t do with your handheld remote. Add an Ether-Serial Link to the mix and you can control multiple TVs from anywhere!

Applications on the shop floor

Serial and parallel technologies are staples of automation and machining operations, where simplicity and reliability are keys.

Create your tablet mini-office!

SimulCharge USB TL-002 unboxing

We unbox the LAVA SimulCharge USB Host Mode and Charging Adapter TL-002 in this video. It's as simple as it looks. Watch video. >>>

Video: Samsung Tab 4 with Nikon DSLR

In this video we connect a Nikon digital SLR to a Samsung Tab 4. The tablet runs a tetherning and remote control app to fully control the camera, and use the camera's LiveView capabilities. Watch video. >>>

Video: Samsung Tab 4 with Canon DSLR

In this video we connect a Canon digital SLR to a Samsung Tab 4. The tablet runs a tetherning and remote control app to fully control the camera. Watch video. >>>

Video: Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 with wired Ethernet

In this video we connect a USB-Ethernet adapter to a Samsung Tab 4. Only the SimulCharge USB adapter can supply power to the tablet at the same time, meaning your LAN connection does not rely on the battery charge of the tablet! Watch video. >>>

Video: Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 with external HDD

Watch a video connecting an external USB HDD to a Samsung Tab 4. You can do this with the SimulCharge USB: and nothing else on the market! Watch video. >>>

Microsoft-signed Windows 8.1 drivers

Microsoft-signed Windows 8.1 drivers are available for LAVA PCI and PCIe cards, 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows 8.1.

Parallel Interface for Passbook Printers

Panasonic ECR upgrades

When McDonald's Canada needed additional RS-232 ports for their Panasonic electronic cash registers, they came to LAVA for assured delivery, 100% product testing, and the LAVA Lifetime Warranty. Get the details >>>

New RS-422 Device Server

LAVA has added a new serial device server to our Ether-Serial Link product line. It's a single-port RS-422 serial device server with an RJ-45 connector for the serial port. This serial connector can deliver 5VDC or 12VDC output to serial devices looking for serial port power, and the RS-422 interface is fully configurable for standard RS-422 bias and termination settings. It's in stock now: contact sales@lavalink.com for details.

Wireless Power Metering

Serial device server white paper

Serial device servers can do much more than just IP-enable serial ports. This white paper gives case studies of other uses. Details here >>>

Updated RS-232 White Paper

We've updated our popular white paper "RS-232 Serial Ports". This PDF white paper provides reference materials on the operation and structure of RS-232, as well as useful practical information on pinouts and cabling, all in one place. Click to download!